NEWSDESK, — In a statement in the International Day of Mother Language (21 February), the Human Rights Association (IHD) remarked that the issue of mother langue is still a taboo in Turkey where even the conception of native language is considered as dangerous, ANF reports.
The IHD statement remarked that the present constitution which is a product of the 1980 military coup recognized only the Turkish language.
Pointing to the provisions of the constitution contradicting the international agreements signed by Turkey, the statement reads; “In this case, Turkey is supposed to recognize the right to use mother language and practice this right (in the area of education and training) in accordance with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention on Human Rights and additional protocols, the Convention on the Rights of the Children, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights it has agreed to.”
Underlining that the present language bans should be removed by the government, the statement added that; “The Kurdish language isn’t allowed at court because it isn’t recognized as a mother language. Furthermore, it is even claimed to be a non-civilised language. On the other hand, there are some the other languages in Turkey which aren’t even mentioned in any area; such as Zazaki, Circassian, Laz language, Armenian, Romaic, Arabic, Hebraic, Gipsy language, Georgian, Syriac, Bosnian, Albanian.”
The statement ended calling on Turkey’s political power which-it said- is at loggerheads with mother languages in 21st century to liberate mother languages and to recognize the right of everyone to receive education and training in mother language.”